Bihar BJP Renews Attack on Prashant Kishor Over Alleged 2020 Election Campaign Data ‘Theft’

In a fresh political storm brewing in Bihar, the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has once again turned its guns on political strategist-turned-political activist Prashant Kishor, accusing him of data theft during the 2020 Assembly elections. The renewed charge has reignited tensions between the BJP and Kishor’s organization, Jan Suraaj, as the political landscape of Bihar begins to heat up ahead of the 2025 polls.

The Allegation: BJP Accuses Kishor of Misusing Sensitive Voter Data

The BJP’s latest salvo comes with claims that Prashant Kishor illicitly accessed and retained sensitive data originally collected during his time with the party’s 2020 campaign in Bihar. The data, reportedly consisting of granular voter behavior analysis, caste demographics, booth-level feedback, and other micro-targeting inputs, was compiled by Kishor’s team under the banner of I-PAC (Indian Political Action Committee) — the political consultancy he founded.

Senior BJP leaders in the state have alleged that Kishor used this information, which was gathered using party resources and through internal BJP networks, for building the foundational outreach strategy of his current initiative, Jan Suraaj. They argue that such usage amounts to intellectual and organizational property theft.

Speaking to media in Patna, a BJP spokesperson said:
“Kishor collected strategic data for BJP in 2020, and today he’s reusing the same for his so-called Jan Suraaj Yatra. This is not just unethical — it’s theft of our campaign intelligence and voters’ trust.”

Prashant Kishor’s Defence: “No Data Belongs to Any One Party”

Prashant Kishor, known for his calculated silence and sharp rebuttals, has dismissed the allegations as “political theatrics” designed to distract the public from real issues. In a press interaction in Muzaffarpur, where his Jan Suraaj campaign has been gaining traction, Kishor responded:

“Data gathered during political campaigns is often generated in partnership with various stakeholders — it’s not the sole property of any one party. Moreover, Jan Suraaj is built on fresh ground feedback and not historical databases. BJP is nervous because people are listening to our message.”

He also took the opportunity to question BJP’s governance record in Bihar, asking whether the party is raising this issue now because it feels threatened by an emerging political alternative.

The Context: Why the Issue Has Re-Emerged Now

While this accusation isn’t entirely new — murmurs of Kishor misusing data surfaced as early as 2021 — the BJP’s renewed focus on the matter seems to be politically timed. With the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections less than a year away, political parties are moving into gear, and any rival movement showing signs of mobilization is being scrutinized and challenged.

Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Yatra, which has been traversing district after district to build a grassroots alternative to traditional parties, has gained unexpected momentum, particularly among educated youth and disenfranchised rural voters. The BJP, wary of possible fragmentation of votes, especially in its strongholds, may see Kishor’s rising influence as a threat worth neutralizing early.

Political analysts suggest that the BJP’s renewed attack is part of a pre-emptive narrative warfare strategy — to discredit Kishor before he can consolidate an electoral base.

Legal and Ethical Dimensions of Political Data

The controversy also opens up an important debate on the ethics and legality of data usage in political campaigns. As digital campaigning becomes the norm, political consultants collect and process enormous volumes of voter data. However, the question remains: who owns this data?

Experts argue that unless there are contractual agreements clearly defining data ownership, the lines remain blurry. In the case of Kishor and the BJP, it’s unclear whether any legal frameworks governed the data collected in 2020.

Cyber law expert Anurag Mehta notes:
“India lacks comprehensive legislation around data ownership in political contexts. Unless specific NDAs or data-sharing agreements were signed, legal action may be difficult to sustain — though the political fallout can still be significant.”

Implications for Bihar’s Political Terrain

Regardless of the veracity of the allegations, the BJP’s renewed targeting of Prashant Kishor signals the beginning of a potentially volatile political season in Bihar. Kishor’s vision of Jan Suraaj as a people-driven political platform without high-command politics seems to be striking a chord in some quarters. For the BJP, portraying him as an opportunist who misused internal data could undermine his credibility before the 2025 race tightens.

However, observers caution that mudslinging might backfire if voters perceive it as a tactic to suppress a new political narrative.

As Bihar gears up for another critical election, the accusations against Prashant Kishor highlight the increasingly data-driven and contentious nature of Indian electoral politics. Whether this controversy results in legal proceedings, public disillusionment, or political realignment remains to be seen. One thing, however, is certain: Kishor is no longer just a backroom strategist — he is now a frontline player, and the BJP is taking him very seriously.